News You Need To Know

Viruses Just because the temperatures are nearing 100 degrees, doesn’t mean your children are safe from colds. While certain viruses, such as rhinovirus, are more common during the colder winter months, coxsackieviruses, the leading cause of Hand Foot and Mouth Disease, can occur throughout the year. Hand Foot and Mouth Disease causes a fever along with small painful mouth sores and a rash on the hands and feet. Similar to other viruses, there is no cure for the aliment. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen will help to reduce fever and ease discomfort. Enteroviruses and echoviruses come with a wide ar......

The 4th of July is filled with fireworks, cookouts and fun. The celebrations can also come with hazards that are especially dangerous to children. Keep your children safe this Independence Day with these tips. With an abundance of fireworks and backyard bonfires, fires frequently occur over the July Fourth holiday. Keep a fire extinguisher nearby to quickly put out any accidental fires. It is also a good idea to have a bucket of water and hose nearby in case an accidental fire spreads rapidly out of control. Decorations are festive and a fun addition to holiday gatherings. However, their ......

Beginning Saturday, July 8th, First Things First will be hosting their annual free family movie nights under the stars. Grab your chairs, blankets and snacks and head to Coolidge Park for Movies in the Park! Each Saturday at 9pm throughout the month of July, the park will transform into a giant, family friendly movie theatre. Bring the family for a fun evening in the great outdoors. The movies scheduled for this summer include: July 8th: Trolls July 15th: Beauty and the Beast July 22nd: Finding Dory July 29th: Kung Fu Panda 3 We hope to see you there!...

When shopping for sunscreen, the choices can seem endless. With brands from A to Z and SPF levels from 4 to 100. It can be challenging to discern which is the best choice. Here are a few common sunscreen questions: What is broad- spectrum sunscreen? The best sunscreens provide both UVA and UVB protection from the sun’s rays. For the best protection, select varieties that contain avobenzone, titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. Look for bottles with broad spectrum or multi-spectrum on the labels. What level of SPF should I use? Select a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 to 50. While there are higher SPF s......

Shots are the biggest fear children have when visiting the doctor’s office. While tears and meltdowns are often part of the process, there are a few techniques that can help comfort your child and keep them calm before and after the shot. All in the Attitude Children can sense a parent’s emotion, even at a young age. Remain calm and refrain from telling your child that things will be fine. That signifies that there is a problem. Don’t Fib Lying to your children and telling them that the shot won’t hurt will only make future visits worse. Be honest when talking about shots and explain that the ......

Summer is a season filled with outdoor adventure and sunshine. Along with the fun comes an increased risk for bug bites, sunburn, dehydration and water injury. Don’t spend your summer in the doctor’s office. Follow these summer safety tips. Water: Water activities are arguably one of the best parts of the dog days of summer. However, drowning is the leading cause of death in children ages 1 to 4. To prevent water related injury, limit cell phone usage and other distractions. Children should never swim or be left unattended by a pool. Sun: Did you know that sunlight exposure during childhood an......

Long swims and backyard playtime can leave children hungry. No mom wants to spend hours in the kitchen slaving away over a hot stove. Try these kid approved, yummy and healthy summer snacks. Pool Side Dip 1 cup orange juice 1 package instant vanilla pudding mix 1 cup plain Greek yogurt 8 oz. package frozen whipped topping, thawed Whisk orange juice and pudding mix until it thickens and becomes smooth. Add in yogurt then gently mix in the whipped topping. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Serve with your favorite fruit slices. Banana Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Bites 6 very ripe bananas ¾ cup mini......

Swimmers ear is a common occurrence among children in the summer. Otitis externa, or swimmer’s ear, is an inflammation of the external ear canal. The condition occurs when water gets into the ear and does not properly drain. When the canal becomes infected and irritated, the ear will become itchy and painful to the touch. As the canal swells, minor temporary hearing loss can occur and a yellow pus may also ooze from the ear. The lining of the outer ear contains glands that produce an acidic, waxy coating that repels water and kills bacteria. However, frequent swimming can wash away the protect......

With temperatures rising, pool days are just around the corner for many families. Along with splashes and laughter, water fun can bring safety hazards. Swimming is one of summer’s greatest activities, but can be dangerous if you don’t take the proper precautions. Drowning is the leading cause of death among children between the ages of 1 and 4. Among children under the age of 19, drowning it the third leading cause of death. Here are a few tips to keep you children safe in the water: Never leave a child unattended near water. It only takes one inch of water for a baby to drown. When superv......

The mere thought of traveling with children can be overwhelming and stressful. Take the pains out of car or air travel with children with these tips. Take Your Time Whether it’s a cross country road trip or a flight from point a to point b, allowing yourself plenty of extra time can make the entire process much easier on everyone. Factoring in time for the unexpected and allowing time for young children to explore can help to elevate the stress of arriving on time. Book Ahead Spontaneous trips become a thing of the past when children are involved. Making reservations can help to reduce stress ......